Was I imagining the friendship ?
I’m posting here because I feel a little lost in relation to a situation and I would like to have external opinions.
I got very close to a colleague for about a year. We worked in a rather difficult and stressful environment, and naturally we became very close. We ate together almost every day, we talked a lot, we supported each other a lot at work, and sometimes we also met outside to have a coffee or just chat. Honestly, for my part, it looked like a real sincere and important friendship, especially at that time.
At first there may have been a slight ambiguity because some people at work thought he seemed to have a little thing for me, but nothing ever happened between us and over time it really became a normal and very strong friendship for me.
Then he got into a relationship, and little by little I began to feel that he was distancing himself. At first I didn't really understand why. He initiated conversations less, he was less present, but without a real clear explanation at the beginning.
Finally, he explained to me that his girlfriend didn't really like him talking or seeing female colleagues outside of work, and that's why he took fewer initiatives and took a little distance. Since then, our relationship has nothing to do with before. We still talk to each other a little from time to time, like answering a story or taking news quickly, but it's not the same anymore, and I especially have the impression that it's always me who relaunches.
What hurts me is mainly the impression of having lost something that was really sincere to me, without real dispute or real "end". I also sometimes feel like I've been put aside, even though I know he probably didn't want to hurt me.
At the same time, I understand that he is in a relationship and that he wants to respect the limits of his relationship, but I find it difficult to understand how something that seemed so natural and reciprocal could have changed so much.
So I sincerely wonder if I overreact or if it is normal to be so affected by this kind of situation. Does this kind of friendship necessarily end up changing when someone gets into a relationship? Was it me who got too attached to this friendship?
I would really like to have honest opinions. Thank u so much